Real Estate Information Archive

If you're planning to purchase a horse, you probably already know how much you're willing and able to spend. But the purchase price is just one part of the cost of a horse. In fact, the cost of owning a horse can range dramatically depending on the breed, age and disposition of your horse, where you live, where you plan to keep the horse and what type of work you plan to do with your new friend. Before you buy a horse, know what you have in your monthly budget.

Do your research to determine you have enough financial resources to own a horse. Your local 4-H Cooperative extension can offer some valuable insight, and point you in the right direction. The easiest way to keep the cost of a horse low is to board him on your own property. However, if you live in an urban area or don’t have the facilities to properly board and pasture a horse, you'll need to find a stable in the area that can keep him. Southern Maryland is home to hundreds of farms, many with horses. Boarding a horse can cost anywhere from $100 up to $500 a month depending on the boarding environment (pasture or stable).

If you plan to keep your horse on your own land, you’ll also need to consider whether the property is adequately equipped. First, you should check with your County zoning and planning office to determine if there are any restrictions for having horses. In Charles County, you must have 3 acres for the first horse and an acre per horse after that. You will also want to ensure you have the proper space for a barn, or someplace for the horse to stay in colder weather.

Most horse owners spend about $60 to $100 per month on hay, salt and supplements – and some spend much more, particularly if they feed grain. Maintaining your horse's hooves adds even more to the cost of a horse. Whether or not you plan to shoe your horse, you'll need to have a farrier check and trim his hooves every two months or so. This usually costs around $25 or $30. Add in shoeing, and you could pay $80 to $100 every two months. Routine medical care is an additional cost of owning a horse and includes vaccinations, de-worming and annual teeth cleaning. For a healthy horse, this can cost as little as $300 a year. However, if your horse gets injured or ill, you could pay hundreds or even thousands for a one-time treatment. Although you can't predict such expenses, prepare yourself for the possibility before you buy a horse.

If you are searching for horse property to purchase, DeHanas Real Estate Services can help. Call 301-870-1717 to begin your search.

Click here for a list of all available horse property for sale in Southern Maryland.

BEAUTIFULLY APPOINTED ROOMS! Spectacular 3000+ sq ft home only 3 yrs young! Features lg kitchen w/42" cabinets, pantry & slider to deck overlooking lg yard backing to woods. Formal LR w/hdwd floors, main level famrm. Upper level "loft" makes a great 2nd famrm. Mstr bdrm w/hdwd floor, walk in closet & full bath. Fully finished bsmt w/huge rec room, 4th bdrm & another full bath. Shows beautifully! New St Charles HS district. See more interior photos of this home!

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CLOSE TO EVERYTHING!!Plenty of space in this 4 bdrm Cape Cod. Laminate flooring on main level. Living room w/bay window & built-in book shelves. kitchen w/dining area has large pantry & French doors that lead to patio & large fenced backyard. Two nice size bedrooms on the upper level with ceramic tile bathroom. Master bath has jetted tub, separate shower & skylight. Needs some work but TONS of potential!! Make it your own!  See more interior pictures of this one!

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A charming stone-front entry greets you upon arrival to this 2-story home which includes a ton of living space, and plenty of room for your design ideas in the unfinished basement. Fresh paint, new carpet and a clean, neutral interior go with any of your decorating tastes. Custom decking and brick patio over look a peaceful country view that will take the stress right out of your day!
Bryans Road is a small town in Charles County Maryland, situated at the intersection of Indian Head Highway and Marshall Corner Road, and offering very convenient access to the Washington DC Beltway and Northern Virginia destinations.  Additionally, it is only a few minutes from National Harbor and the upcoming National Harbor Casino.

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HISTORIC PORT TOBACCO offers the perfect setting for this fully upgraded home, with ample rooms for entertaining family and friends, and a gourmet kitchen that would make any chef in the house proud! It sits just seconds from popular Historic venues, that feature quaint small-town events such as the popular CRMC Wine tasting, scenic bicycle rallies and educational tours. This is a MUST SEE!!

A LIFESTYLE MOST PEOPLE DREAM ABOUT BUT RARELY EXPERIENCE! This upscale Colonial is nestled amongst the trees on 3 acres just off of a scenic country road, popular to bicyclists. It includes water access to the Port Tobacco River, making it perfect for the boat or jet ski owner! With multiple levels, and a great room bump-out, spaciousness abounds. It's loaded with upgrades, built-ins & more!!

Click here for more interior photos!

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Buying and selling a home has certainly been a roller-coaster experience over the recent past, and I predict will continue to be full of interesting twists and turns in the near foreseeable future.  Certainly the anticipation of political changes has brought transactions like short sales to a snails pace.  Congress has yet to make a call on the extension of of the Debt Forgiveness Act of 2007, and the short sale process has not gotten any easier since they first became popular 6 years ago. It is doubtful we will see much progress after the election as the lack of bi-partisanship continues to negatively effect the pace at which recovery is happening. Even with the slow pace of short sales, they continue to be the most responsible way a homeowner can avoid Foreclosure.

There are a number of indicators which tell us that the market we are currently in is likely to remain much the same with regards to the number of short sales and Bank owned sales. But also signs that a slowing may be on the horizon, and even predictions of a decline in home values.

I have noted that in the past 30 days I am seeing a softening of the local market.  September is certainly not running at the same rate in terms of real estate activity, as July was. My peers from all across the country are experiencing similar happenings. August stats for the Nations resales and new construction are also down over last year.

On September 18th, 2014, a former Goldman Sachs executive delivered an 18 page report to the White House that has many banking institutions alarmed.  He warns of an adjustment in the current home values by as much as a 15% decrease over the next three years, which could wipe out all of the gains we have seen in the current recovery.  Here is a link to the article.

http://dsnews.com/news/09-18-2014/analyst-predicts-home-price-decline-report-white-house

This report follows a recent CoreLogic report indicating the past several months of national home prices has hit a plateau.  Plateaus of this type can also signify a warning of a correction in home values might be imminent.

By itself, I would say these are the kinds of things we continue to hear, and then the next week, we see good news, however, there does appear to be multiple sources of independent opinions all coming to the same conclusion.

There is a projection this could lead to a resurgence of short sales and foreclosures all across the country, and unfortunately the State of Maryland has not made significant recovery in this area to date. Because Maryland is a Judiciary State, the backlog of homes facing Foreclosure has us ranked 4th in the Nation in terms of the quantity of homeowners having missed making a mortgage payment in 90 or more days.

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As we pass through the New Year and all of the holiday festivities, the Real Estate Market is beginning to heat up once again. The National Association of Realtors is forecasting a 15% to 20% increase in sales, and at a time when the housing inventory is at an all time low.  One segment of inventory that has remained consistent over the past couple of years is the supply of rental property.  Fueled by a combination of investors jumping into the market and homeowners unable to sell homes due to underwater mortgages, rental properties have held their own when it comes to supply vs demand, and as a result rental pricing has remained relatively stable.

Consumers on the move have plenty of hoops to jump through when it comes to buying a home because the mortgage industry continues to tighten its prerequisites for obtaining a mortgage, and if you are contemplating purchasing a home that is a short sale or Bank-owned, you better be prepared for a long wait that statistically results in more disappointments than wins.  As a result, many prospective home buyers end up renting.  But is this the best financial choice?  Home buying just might be worth a little "hoop-jumping" for some consumers.

In most cases, because of the low mortgage rates, a home buyer will pay $500-$600 per month less for the same home that a tenant is occupying.  And with home values finally stabilizing and heading in a more positive direction, the prospect of future equity certainly out weighs paying for someone else's mortgage. 

For those interested in a better understanding of the cost of renting verses the cost of buying, I came across this link featured in the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/business/buy-rent-calculator.html

Of course if you have any questions regarding buying, selling, renting or investing in real estate, DeHanas Real Estate is here to help!  Call us at 301-870-1717.

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